Aged Fixtures

Older homes may present various structural problems, and plumbing fixtures could be one of these concerns. And the problem with old house plumbing is that sooner or later, it will manifest. If the property owner moves pro-actively and upgrades and repairs the aged plumbing system – well and good but he better prepare for a one-time big-time cost. If he will wait till something goes out or bursts, then it may mean partial cost but the risk of a bigger damage (and similarly bigger expense) can also be a possibility. Plumbing Association of San Diego

Old House Web dished out some plumbing advice for owners of older houses. “One of the first things you will need to do is replace the pipes where necessary. This is usually where you have older pipe that is falling apart, galvanized pipe, or joints between two different types of pipe that were joined without a dielectric coupling (as corrosion here is almost certain). The best options for replacement include copper, PVC, and PEX pipe. Copper is elegant but expensive, so tends to be used in areas where pipes are exposed. PEX pipe is great for colder areas, as it can withstand some freezing, and it’s flexible for easier installation. PVC is cheap and serviceable, which is why it tends to be the standard.”

Home Improvement Problems

Tymber Dalton shared home improvement challenges he had been through particularly in the area of plumbing that has existed for over 60 years. A/C And HVAC

“Of course, the fitting sizes, lengthwise, were different than the originals. (Not the threads/openings, the physical dimensions of the new T and new elbow.) So I had to make a second trip to Ace Hardware for different length nipples to see if we could get the gap closed up. (We were lacking about 1/4″ to make the new connections fit up to the old one at the supply valve.”

The author of the blog Believe Boldy also gave her fair share of experiences in dealing with old house plumbing – specifically that which was built 112 years ago.

“Our plumbing had stopped working for the billionth time and in a home with two small children, a person cannot survive without a flushing toilet. My husband had shoveled more than his fair share of dirt and replaced part of the pipeline a few months earlier, hoping to fix the problem. Those rose-colored glasses were now as broken as Ralphie’s from “A Christmas Story” as we revisited the ol’ poop tube again.”

Solar Powered Air Conditioning System

Solar power nowadays can be used for almost every electrical fixture or equipment inside the home. This is especially true when the specific property has already totally switched to solar energy for its power needs.

“Learn how you can have solar air conditioning even if you are off grid. The rise in utility prices and the campaign to save resources like electricity and gas has force people to adopt an off the grid (OTG) lifestyle. People who care about the environment and believe in green living also support the OTG lifestyle. OTG lifestyle is when you don’t depend on the support of a remote infrastructure such as the electrical grid in your area.”

Step-by-Step Guide

Instructables meantime shared a blow-by-blow instructional on how to come up with a Do-It-Yourself solar powered air conditioning unit. A/C And HVAC

“Harvesting? Yes you read it right. Harvesting a renewable resource allows powering of my air conditioning unit and most of my household electrical loads. An air conditioning unit uses lots of energy to remove heat from a room. To provide that energy you need enough solar panels installed properly to capture the radiant energy of the sun.”

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The website Green Building Elements meantime explained how Solar-Powered Air Conditioning works in a commercial setting.

“The system uses concentrating solar thermal technology to produce heat energy used to power the air conditioning system. It is a “closed-loop” air conditioner, meaning it heats and cools air within the building without introducing any external air into the system, with a pair of “desiccant” (drying) wheels acting as dehumidifiers to remove moisture from the air. These desiccant wheels operate at separate temperatures; the high-temperature wheel uses the captured solar energy for regeneration of the low temperature wheel, which operates without any external heat at all.”

“Here’s a cautionary tale for you. During our home inspection, the inspector pointed out that our hot water heater was older and would need replacing “in a few years.” No problem, we thought. We have plenty of time after we move in and address other issues, we thought. Only, we thought wrong. The hot water heater, may it RIP, gave out for good two days after we moved into the house. One $700 trip to Lowe’s later and we had hot water once again, but we also learned a valuable lesson about factoring expenses for older home appliances into our budget. See also: our outdated HVAC, which we are replacing just over a year after buying the home for a cool (get it?) $6000.”

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Homes.com meantime told its readers to expect that the energy efficiency of fixtures in an older home may be lower compared to that of newer models.

“Energy efficient windows are just one of the features that became standard after the first energy crises of 1970. Many very old houses that date before that era may not have added insulation, new windows and doors, energy efficient heating and cooling systems. If you’re considering an old house that needs upgrading to be energy efficient, most of the 30 percent tax credits for basic home repairs have expired.”

What needs to be known about HVAC Air Filters

As its name suggests, HVAC Air filters prevent unwanted fine particles from polluting indoor air in any home or commercial establishment. All a homeowner needs to do is to decide which air filter to purchase, and remember to regularly replace the HVAC Filter.

Both however are not as simple as it seems considering that there are hunderds of choices when it comes to HVAC Air Filters. And determining when it is appropriate to change one is another thing that breeds confusion since there are no hard and fast rule to know when to do it.

“Our client was concerned farmers may use inferior standard replacement HVAC filters and was very concerned about the potential spread of the porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS) virus among their stock. This deadly virus causes industry losses of over half a billion dollars every year. Our engineering team analyzed existing ventilation systems used in other swine farm facilities our client’s facilities and designed a custom filter solution to prevent the installation of standard filters that operate at a lower performance. We determined a custom designed 4V filter frame construction with a high filtration efficiency filter media specially treated with an antimicrobial agent would eliminate the virus and protect the livestock.”

The website Apartments.Remmont cautioned its readers against buying cheap air filters.

“The fact is not all air filters are created equal. The cheapest filters might be fine for filtering out large sized household dust and lint, but the typical home’s interior air is polluted with a lot more unwanted elements composed of much very fine size. The EPA provides an informative breakdown of particulate matter and gaseous pollutants often found indoors. listing the ‘two categories of indoor air pollutants that can affect the quality of air in a home.’ Viruses, bacteria, pollen, mold, dust mite, animal dander, smoke. nobody wants to breathe these inside their own home and the cheapest of HVAC filters do a poor job of removing these elements from interior air.”

“Don’t delay regular maintenance on your HVAC system. If you don’t perform maintenance in the fall, it’s imperative that you do it before the next big winter storm. Do it yourself or hire a heating technician to do it for you. Just make sure that it’s done regularly and effectively to ensure that you and your family will remain safe and warm through the winter.”

Summer Maintenance Tips

Texas Real Estate also gave some tips on how to fully enjoy the home HVAC system in the heat fof the summer months. A/C And HVAC

“AC coolant isn’t a fuel, so it doesn’t get “used up” by your unit naturally. If your unit needs a charge, there’s an underlying cause—usually a leak. Left unattended, these types of leaks can worsen and cause serious damage, so be ready to recognize the early warning signs. Does your thermostat seem to be working accurately, or are you continually having to set the temperature lower to remain comfortable? Is the air coming out of your vents noticeably cold, or only a bit cooler than room temperature? Pay attention to these things as you settle in for your first summer in your new home. If you start to notice a change, you may have an issue that needs to be resolved.”

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The webpage Primex Fits also shared some more ways to ensure that an HVAC system will continue running smoothly amid the weather changes.

“The furnace filter should be changed every three to six months in order to help the furnace work effectively and improve indoor air quality. Check that heating vents and cold air returns are not blocked by furniture or clogged with dust. Vacuuming out any debris from the registers will also help with the efficiency of the system. If it’s possible to inspect the ductwork in a crawlspace or basement follow it along and check for leaks. All joints and connections should be sealed with foil tape or mastic. If you suspect ducts are very dirty it’s worth recommending a duct cleaning service.”

Reasons for having Low Water Pressure

Low water pressure can be inconvenient especially for multi-level households. Once a homeowner encounters issues on low water pressure, a call to the plumber is definitely warranted given that this could be a clue of other plumbing issues that may already be taking place in the property.

“Low water pressure has a number of different causes. Sometimes it can be due to problems such as the shut-off valve being closed or a blocked tap. It may also be caused by plumbing blockages or water leaks.”

Pressure or supply problem?

Canadian-based Anta Plumbing for its part shared a tip to its readers on how to decipher if the problem is indeed in the water pressure, or in the water supply. Plumbing Info

“If you’re unsure about whether you have a problem with your water pressure, or whether it is just generally low, it may be an idea to buy a water pressure measuring gauge from your hardware store. The average water pressure reading for a home’s water supply should be between 50-70 pounds per square inch (psi). Fixtures are made to sustain up to a maximum of 80 psi without sustaining damage, but if your pressure is below 50 psi, you may become pretty frustrated with your low water pressure.”

Vanisle Water also shared some possible reasons for low water pressure.

“Debris, such as; sand, dirt and pollutants, can enter your home’s pipes when a water main fractures. Mineral deposits are a common problem in older homes with galvanized iron pipes. Deposits are normally located in horizontal pipes and are caused by hot water reacting with the metal. If the pipes in your home are old, they may have also become corroded, restricting the water flow.”

“They had to rip out a lot of the floors in their own home, and it’s caused damage to their heating and cooling system. Bruce Richardson, the La Vergne city administrator, said a grease and sludge build up in the city sewer line caused the backup into the home, but because they couldn’t predict it, the city isn’t liable for the repairs.”

Widespread problem

The website The Mirror meantime shared the story of a sewage back up that threatened bridges in the town. A/C And HVAC

“The city has made upgrades to its sewer system since the 2011 floods, but Chute said a number of areas are still vulnerable to sewage backups. City contractors also recently built a bulkhead on the 10th Street bridge to prevent washouts.”

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